We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer. We are looking for a Head of Benefits & Engagement to develop and lead our EAPF strategies to deliver an excellent service to our members and other stakeholders. You will have proven experience as a leader in a pension administration environment, either outsourced or in house. Responsibilities: • Develop, implement and communicate EAPF policies to enable delivery of Administration and Communication strategies and wider EAPF governance strategies. • Operate within Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Regulations and other overriding pension legislation. Understand, interpret and communicate process changes and deliver training. • Contract and relationship management, including leading management of our third-party pension administrator, Capita. • Support delivery of governance requirements for Pensions Committee, Pensions Board and pension training including presenting papers and recommendations on areas of responsibility. • Provide our members with an excellent pension administration service. Ensure our communication methods and website are informative, accurate and engaging. • Manage change including admitted bodies, bulk transfer and other government and LGPS change. Lead on EAPF employer relations and employer procedural changes and training. • Oversee data & security review and mitigate all administration related pension risks. • Prepare reports, briefings and other materials as appropriate in order to be open and transparent with stakeholders. • Represent the Fund within the investment industry amongst peers, regulators and media to create opportunities for collaboration and innovation. • To develop and maintain professional networks with other LGPS Funds and other pension professionals to foster sharing of best practice, innovation and service improvements. • Manage communication and pension administration staff and work with other supporting officers in wider team. • Provide training to the Benefits Working Group and Pensions Committee on relevant areas as required. • Line management of Pension Administration and Engagement staff. The team The Pensions Team sits in Strategy, Transformation and Assurance and supports our Trustee Board, the Pensions Committee, which is a sub Committee of the Environment Agency Board. We are a friendly team, based in Bristol city centre, and work together to deliver a pension fund that is well run, well financed, invested responsibly, and provides an excellent service for our members. Experience/skills required You will have proven experience as a leader in a pension administration environment, either outsourced or in house including significant experience of pensions benefits, administration and engagement in a leadership/managerial role: Specialist knowledge of pensions industry including fund governance, risk management, benefits administration, communications and valuations. Practical experience of pension fund annual reporting, financial accounting, internal and external auditing. Excellent inter-personal skills: effective presenter, communicator and commercially astute. Ability to work in a Government context and maintain excellent relations with departments and other bodies dealing with pensions. Experience of running an in-house or outsourced pensions team. A member of a relevant professional body.* * may be waived for a candidate with exceptional experience.. Location : Bristol, South West England